On August 19, Representative Pete King (R-N.Y.) became the first Republican to join 202 Democrats in cosponsoring H.R. 1296, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019. In so doing, King has the dubious distinction of joining ranks with the likes of Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) — collectively known as “the Squad.”